NEW DELHI: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term enters its second month, cracks in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition are becoming increasingly visible. The monsoon session of Parliament, which concluded on Friday, has exposed the strains within the NDA as allies grow restive and internal discord becomes more pronounced.
One of the major takeaways from the session is the renewed focus on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose speeches managed to provoke considerable reaction from the Treasury benches. Modi’s direct interventions during Gandhi’s address underscored the growing significance of the Congress leader in the political landscape, reflecting a strategic shift by the BJP. The Congress, buoyed by this attention, appears to be consolidating its position, with key figures like Kumari Selja, Charanjit Singh Channi, and Praniti Shinde making notable impacts in the Lok Sabha.
However, the BJP’s own internal dynamics reveal a less harmonious picture. Despite the usual robust rhetoric from BJP MPs like Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s combative stance, the session highlighted a certain listlessness among the ruling party’s ranks. The palpable air of discontent following the Lok Sabha results hints at deeper issues within the party.
Among the most striking developments was the emergence of Shivraj Singh Chouhan as a prominent figure in the Modi Cabinet. As the new Union Agriculture Minister, Chouhan has distinguished himself with impactful speeches and interventions, contrasting sharply with his Cabinet colleagues. His assertive approach has drawn attention and praise, marking a departure from the typical post-election Cabinet dynamics.
On the coalition front, the NDA’s ‘Fevicol bond’—a term used to describe the supposedly unbreakable unity of the alliance—showed signs of strain. During the monsoon session, NDA allies remained passive observers amid heated exchanges between BJP MPs and the INDIA bloc. This detachment signals a growing discomfort among NDA constituents with the BJP’s handling of key issues.
A critical example of this unease was the response to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), both crucial to the NDA’s stability, aligned with the Opposition’s call for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) review of the Bill. The TDP’s endorsement of the Opposition’s stance and JD(U) leader Vijay Choudhary’s support for the JPC’s scrutiny reflect a divergence from the BJP’s position, highlighting the challenges the ruling party faces in maintaining coalition cohesion.
More Read
Outside Parliament, the NDA’s challenges are equally apparent. The Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, has asserted its influence in Maharashtra by appointing numerous in-charges and observers for upcoming Assembly elections, signaling its claim on key constituencies. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, has similarly demanded a substantial number of seats, complicating the BJP’s seat allocation strategy. Such demands illustrate the growing assertiveness of NDA allies and the difficulty the BJP faces in managing these relationships.
In Karnataka, the NDA’s internal discord is evident with the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) initially distancing itself from the BJP’s Mysore-Bengaluru padayatra. The JD(S)’s reluctance to fully support the BJP highlights the ongoing competition and rivalry between coalition partners. The underlying tension stems from a broader struggle over influence and territory within the NDA’s varied political landscape.
The BJP’s approach to its coalition partners reflects a broader strategy of maintaining control while pursuing its ideological and governance agendas. The party’s big-brotherly stance, marked by a lack of formal mechanisms for coordinating with NDA allies, may be contributing to the current strains. As regional players like Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar navigate their political futures, the BJP must contend with growing demands from its partners and shifting alliances.
As the NDA prepares for crucial Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir, the pressure is on the BJP to address these internal fissures and demonstrate its continued electoral appeal. If Modi’s leadership is to remain as effective as in previous terms, the party will need to reassess its coalition strategy and ensure that the ‘Fevicol bond’ holds firm amidst the emerging challenges.
